What is Metcon?

Metcon stands for Metabolic Conditioning. Metabolic conditioning (metcon) is one of the many types of training/categories within the great realm of fitness. Other categories include but are not limited to: HIIT (high intensity interval training), Oly Lifting (olympic lifting), etc.  

So let’s break it down even further. 

What is conditioning? Conditioning¹ is used to describe the process of training a person or an animal to behave a certain way (or to accept certain circumstances/conditions). 

What is metabolic? Metabolic² refers to metabolism and the definition of metabolism is the biochemical process that occurs within a living organism in order to maintain life. Metabolism consists of anabolism (the buildup of substances) and catabolism (the breakdown of substances). 

So, what happens when we put the two together? 

Metabolic conditioning (metcon) is the process of training our biochemical process (anabolism and catabolism) to behave a certain way. That certain way is to continually improve. 

Since metabolic conditioning is a popular term used in fitness. We then look at what we’re looking to improve on in fitness and that is where we break down the 10 Components of Fitness³.

1. Cardiovascular/respiratory endurance - the ability of body systems to gather, process, and deliver oxygen
2. Stamina - the ability of body systems to process, deliver, store, and utilize energy
3. Strength - the ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply force
4. Flexibility - the ability to maximize range of motion at a given point
5. Power - the ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply maximum force in minimum time 
6. Speed - the ability to minimize the time cycle of a repeated movement
7. Coordination - the ability to combine several distinct movement patterns into a singular distinct movement
8. Agility - the ability to minimize transition from one movement pattern to another
9. Balance - the ability to control the placement of the other bodies center of gravity in relation to its support base
10. Accuracy - the ability to control movement in a given direction or a given intensity. 

Collectively, these attributes contribute to one's overall fitness. Therefore metcon refers to the training of continuous improvements of the 10 components of fitness. 

Although if we want to be more technical, Arthur Jones, founder of Nautilus Inc., coined the phrase "Metabolic Conditioning" in an article of Athletic Journal published in 1975⁴.

He said, "contrary to widespread opinion, it now appears that there are actually three separate levels of conditioning: (1) muscular strength (2) cardiovascular ability and (3) a previously unsuspected level of conditioning I have named metabolic conditioning."

At the time, Mr. Jones was referring to how the fitness industry believed that developing muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance were mutually exclusive. Mr. Jones believed that there is a third level of conditioning which can develop both muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance simultaneously. 

"[Metabolic conditioning] is the ability to work at a high level of intensity for a prolonged period of time… the ability to work at a level very close to 100 percent of intensity for a period of at least 20 minutes, instead of one minute previously considered possible."

To get even more granular, we start to measure our body's production of VO₂ max to define technically what is considered metcon... but we're not going to go there and it would be a disservice to not credit the Crossfit community on popularizing metcon workouts through their daily WODs. 

In retrospect, regardless of whatever metcon stands for and which method of fitness training you decide to pursue or explore -- what's important is that we are listening, staying active, taking care of our bodies day in and day out. 

Stay fit. Stay healthy. Stay happy. 

Mobile Metcon 

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